MORE than 40 people braved the snow and bitter weather to attend a protest against the ‘bedroom tax’.

Campaigners from across Calderdale gathered outside Halifax Town Hall on Saturday to show the strength of feeling against benefit changes.

Under the Welfare Reform Act, people with spare bedrooms in their council or housing association homes will be charged an under-occupation penalty.

A tenant ruled to have one spare bedroom could have to pay an extra £700 a year.

Jonathon Maguire, 22, who organised the protest, was delighted with the turnout and said: “This shows how strongly people feel.

“The bedroom tax is unfair and unjust and it is appalling that the Government is able to dictate to people how many bedrooms they have.

“People will have no choice but to pay the tax but I am sure many won’t be able to and will eventually face eviction.”

The protest was also attended by Calderdale Labour councillors Barry Collins, Anne Collins, Daniel Sutherland and Lisa Lambert.

Also backing the protest was the Calderdale action group Save Our Services (SOS) and secretary Peter Keal said: “This tax hits poor working people and needs to be defeated.”

Jak Leith, of Ovenden, said she knew of families on her estate – including one with a disabled child – who would be badly affected.

“People are being forced out of their homes and there is no way families can move into private rented accommodation. The situation is dire.

“I have seen men in their 50s crying over this, not knowing what to do. It must be stopped.”

Jonathon plans a further protest to keep up the pressure.